Thanet District Council, Kent is set to become one the first local authorities in the country to vote in favour equal marriage. In a motion to be debated on 18th April, councillors are being asked to respond positively to the Government’s consultation document on equal marriage by • Supporting the removal of the ban on same-sex couples being able to have a marriage through a civil ceremony • Supporting the proposal to allow transsexual people to change their legal gender without having to legally end their existing marriage or civil partnership Mover of the motion, independent Councillor Ian Driver said I welcome the Governments consultation paper on Equal Marriage and I am asking all my colleague councillors to vote against discrimination and vote for change” “If 2 people love each other and want to make a commitment through marriage why shouldn’t they” “However I am disappointed by the hysterical over-reaction of a small number of church leaders. Their comments have been quite hateful and more reminiscent of medieval witch hunting than modern day inclusivity” Driver & colleague Independent Councillor John Worrow will be launching a campaign to mobilise local opinion in favour of the Council voting for equal marriage. Said Driver “I have spoken to several councillors who agree the change, but the public needs to make it views known. We have set up a face book page to gather local support. http://www.facebook.com/ThanetLovesEqualMarriage?skip_nax_wizard=true We will also be encouraging people to ask their councillors to vote in favour of equal marriage. We are thinking about organising a lobby of the council meeting on 18 March to influence decision makers”. “Thanet can make history by becoming the first local authority in the country to turn its back on old fashioned bigotry and vote for a modern approach to love and marriage”.
Saturday 17 March 2012
Thanet Council First to Vote for Equal Marriage
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Old fashioned bigotry or an institution which pre-dates both the Christian church and the English parliament. If marriage is extended to same sex couples in civil ceremonies how long before the gay lobby start clamouring for church weddings and then some priest will be challenged in the Human Rights court and the deed will be done. What is the world coming to?
ReplyDeleteSome enlightened Christians do not have a problem with this nor with women priests. Many people throughout history have joined orders as monks and nuns as they prefer a same sex community. As for what is the world coming to ... a disasterous future and same sex marriage has nothing to do with this!!
DeleteAs long as gay marriages will be accepted by Mosques too, I don't see a problem.
ReplyDeleteMy Grandfather used to say the same about mixed race marriage. "What is the world coming to" what he really meant is "What is HIS world coming to" There is still a lot of backward thinking in Thanet.
ReplyDeleteI have very mixed feelings over this. By all means allow gay marriages, but not in churches (or mosques) if it's against what these religions believe in. The Bible (& The Koran) isn't The Highway Code, & can't just be rewritten to suit changing morals... and I'm saying this as an openly bisexual man who has no strong religious beliefs.
ReplyDeletePeter, it is CIVIL Marriage that they are talking about, not religous marriage. The Prime Minister's proposal is for equal marriage in register offices - the church can have their own rules but that can't dictate do others any more!
ReplyDeleteIt speaks volumes when someone calls equal marriage "Gay Marriage"
ReplyDeleteIt speaks even louder when people post snidey anonymous comments.
DeleteWhat really concerns me is what has this to do with Thanet District Council. Surely this decision, either way, is not within their remit so why waste tax payers money spending time debating it. Even as a consultation exercise it comes down to the views of a few electected councillors which is not necessarily a true representation of the views of the people of Thanet. This is simply a show boating exercise to demonstrate how trendy and with it the Labour led TDC are.
ReplyDeleteAlso impressed by the anonymous poster at 3:14 who critices others for posting snidey anonymous comments. Does 3:14's anonymous comment somehow carry more credibility?
Finger trouble - For 'critices' read 'criticises' or with a 'z' if you prefer the alternative spelling.
DeleteTom if you care read the consultation document you will see that the Government is sepcifically requesting local authorities such as Thanet to let them have our views. We have a responsibility to respond. Not least of which is the fact that that there are least 1,500 LGBT people living in Thanet who, if the choose to do so, should have the right to equal civil marriage. Vote no to Dark Ages. Vote yes to modern Love
ReplyDeleteTom Clarke says:
ReplyDelete"Surely this decision, either way, is not within their remit so why waste tax payers money spending time debating it."
I understand there are people, tax paying ones at that, who will be interested or affected by this. Are they not of concern to local councillors too?
"This is simply a show boating exercise to demonstrate how trendy and with it the Labour led TDC are."
Where's your proof Tom?